Corset stay



Feb. 14, 1950 R. HERZ ETAL 2,497,728

CDRSET STAY Filed June 15, 1947 Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y CORSET s'rAY Rosalind Herz and Bert Herz, New York, N. Y. Application June 1s, 1947, Aserial No. 754,352

3 Claims.

This invention relates to corsets and foundation garments and, more particularly, to a method of affixing stays within such garments.

At the present time, itis customary to reinforce corsets and foundation garments with stays made of steel or plastic which, while flexible, are rigid longitudinally. These stays are normally sewn in a pocket formed in the garment between several pieces of fabric. Due to the movement of the body, the stays have a tendency to rub against the fabric, particularly at the ends of the pockets, and to cut the fabric or the stitches forming the pocket, with the result that they protrude from the garment and are not only unsightly but cause discomfort to the wearer. Numerous attempts have been made to overcome this difficulty by reinforcing the pockets at their ends and by other expedients.

An object of this invention is to provide means of fastening the stays in place so that they will be spaced a predetermined distance from the ends of the pockets, thus avoiding wear at the end of the pockets and the cutting of the fabric, while at the same time maintaining the stays in their proper position. Most corsets and foundation garments are made of material which, when washed or moistened by perspiration from the body, have a tendency to shrink to some extent. We are aware that previous attempts have been made to fasten the stays within the pockets but these have been unsuccessful due to shrinking or stretching of the fabric which causes a distortion of the stays and eventually the ripping or tearing of the garment. It is, therefore, one of the objects of this invention to provide a means for fastening stays which will permit a certain clearance and a predetermined amount of movement so that should the garment stretch or shrink the stays will not become distorted.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the drawing and following description.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a portion of the garment, partly in section, embodying our improved stays;

Fig. 2 is a view also partly in section of a pocket containing the improved stay;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the pocket taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed enlarged view of the stay fastening; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the garment I0 may be of any conventional type and is provided with a series of pockets II like- Wise of the conventional type. The pockets II enclose the stays I2. The stays I2 may be made of plastic material, steel, bone or any other suitable material. Instead of the stays I2 being positioned within the pocket II by the ends I4 and I5 thereof and abutting said ends, the ends I6 and I'1 of the stays are positioned a spaced distance from the erids of the pockets to avoid wear and ripping.

The stays I2 are provided with a series of elongated slots I8, each of the slots preferably being of a length slightly shorter than the distance between the ends of the stays and the ends of the pockets. Through each of the slots I8 and through the fabric I9 of the pocket II is passed an eyelet or rivet 2D. The eyelet or rivet 20 has heads 2I greater than the width of the slot I8 but has an inner center or shank portion 22 which is smaller in diameter than the width of the slot so that the rivet 20 is free to move longitudinally in the slot but is held by the heads 2l from passing through the slot. Thus it will be seen that with our construction the fabric I9 may stretch or shrink to quite a degree without distorting the stays or ripping the rivets or eyelets away from the fabric.

In addition to the advantages heretofore brought out, our construction provides a certain flexibility to enable the stays to move slightly to conform to the body, thus producing a more comfortable garment.

We claim:

1. In a corset or foundation garment having pockets adapted to receive supporting stays, stays in said pockets, each of said stays having a plurality of elongated longitudinal slots, said slots being shorter than the distance between the ends of the stays and the ends of said pockets, and fastening means extending through said pockets and said slots to position said stays a spaced `distance from the ends of said pockets and 'allowing said stays to move with respect to said pockets a distance equal to the length of said slots.

2. In a corset or foundation gar-ment having pockets adapted to receive supporting stays, stays in said pockets, each of said stays having a plurality of elongated slots, said slots being shorter than the distance between the ends of the stays and the ends of said pockets, and fastening means extending through said pockets and said slots to position said stays a spaced distance from the ends of said pockets and allowing said stays to move :with respect to said pockets a distance equal to the length of said slots, said fastening means 3 having heads of a diameter greater than the width of said slot, and a shank or body portion of a diameter smaller than the width `of said slot.

3. In a corset or foundation garment having pockets adapted to receive supporting stays, stays in said pockets, each of said stays having a plurality of elongated slots, said slots being shorter than the distance between the ends of the stays and the ends of said pockets, the sides of said slots being equidistant at all points intermediate their ends, and fastening means extending through said pockets and said slots to position said stays a spaced distance from the ends of said pockets and allowing said stays to move with respect to said pockets a distance equal to 1 the length of said slots, said fastening means having heads of a diameter greater than the Width 4 of said slot, and a shank `or body portion of a diameter smaller than the width of said slot.

ROSALIND HERZ. BERT HERZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi' record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 316,858 Williams Apr. 28, 1885 1,581,962 Kispert Apr. 20, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 226,673 Great Britain Jan. 1, 1935 

